A marine craft comprising a hull comprising a transom; and a portable drive assembly temporarily attached to the transom, the portable drive assembly comprising an elongated drive housing enclosing an upper drive assembly and a lower driven assembly and a timing belt connecting the upper drive assembly to the lower driven assembly; and an engine mounting plate attached externally to the drive housing adjacent the upper drive assembly perpendicular to the drive housing; view more

The marine craft according to claim 1, wherein the portable drive assembly further comprises steering and throttle controls.

The marine craft according to claim 1, wherein the shaft housing comprises a rudder fin.

The marine craft according to claim 1, wherein the upper drive assembly and the lower driven assembly further include respective timing pulleys compatible with the timing belt, the timing belt being unobstructed or acted upon by other bodies.

The marine craft according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket assembly for temporarily attaching the portable drive assembly to the transom, the mounting bracket assembly comprising a mounting bracket and a pivotal assembly for positioning the portable drive assembly in the horizontal plane. view more

The marine craft according to claim 1 further comprising a utility engine mounted on the engine mounting plate and coupled to the upper drive assembly.

The marine craft according to claim 7, wherein the portable drive assembly further comprises steering and throttle controls.

The marine craft according to claim 7, wherein the shaft housing comprises a rudder fin.

The marine craft according to claim 7, wherein the upper drive assembly and the lower driven assembly further include respective timing pulleys compatible with the timing belt, the timing belt being unobstructed or acted upon by other bodies.

The marine craft according to claim 7, further comprising a mounting bracket assembly for temporarily attaching the portable drive assembly to the transom, the mounting bracket assembly comprising a mounting bracket and a pivotal assembly for positioning the portable drive assembly in the horizontal plane. view more

The marine craft according to claim 12, further comprising a first pivoting assembly for positively positioning the elongated drive housing beyond vertical relative to the mounting bracket in the vertical plane.

A portable drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft said portable drive assembly comprising an elongated drive housing enclosing an upper drive assembly a lower driven assembly and a timing belt connecting said upper drive assembly to said lower driven assembly, an engine mounting plate attached externally to said drive housing located adjacent said upper drive assembly perpendicular to said drive housing said lower driven assembly further comprising a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said drive housing adjacent said driven assembly extending at least 12 inches beyond said drive housing and a propeller attached to said propeller shaft. view more

The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drive system further comprises steering and throttle controls.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a shaft housing having a vertical triangular fin located below said shaft housing, a shaft supported adjacent each end by thrust bearings in a manner whereby said shaft extends beyond each of said thrust bearings and a plurality of internal seals located along said shaft outboard of said thrust bearings. view more

The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper drive assembly and said lower driven assembly further include timing pulleys compatible with said timing belt said belt being rotationally unobstructed or acted upon by other bodies.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a self contained air cooled utility engine having a horizontal output shaft attached to said engine mounting plate said output shaft coupled to said upper drive assembly.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 6 wherein said drive housing is water sealed.

A portable outboard engine and drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft comprising: a) a sealed housing containing a timing belt drive assembly comprising an upper drive pulley assembly and a lower driven pulley assembly; b) an engine mounting plate attached externally to said sealed housing located adjacent said upper drive pulley assembly perpendicular to said sealed housing; c) a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said sealed housing extending from said driven pulley assembly at least 12 inches beyond said sealed housing; d) a propeller attached to said propeller shaft; e) a pivotal means for temporarily attaching said sealed drive housing to a boat transom; and f) an air cooled engine mounted to said engine-mounting plate and coupled externally to said upper drive pulley assembly. view more

The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said pivotal means comprises both horizontal and vertical pivoting means.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a plurality of thrust bearings and seals at each end of said shaft housing.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 11 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a rudder fin extending below said shaft housing.

The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said propeller shaft assembly is in excess of 18 inches in length.

A method of driving a small watercraft in very shallow water comprising the steps of: a) attaching a portable drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft said portable drive assembly comprising an elongated drive housing enclosing an upper drive assembly, a lower driven assembly and a timing belt connecting said upper drive assembly to said lower driven assembly, an engine mounting plate attached externally to said drive housing located adjacent said upper drive assembly perpendicular to said drive housing, said lower driven assembly further comprising a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said drive housing adjacent said driven assembly extending at least 12 inches beyond said drive housing, and a propeller attached to said propeller shaft; b) attaching an air cooled utility engine to said engine mounting plate and coupling said air cooled utility engine to said upper drive assembly; and c) adjusting said pivotal transom mounting bracket relative to said transom in a manner whereby said propeller shaft assembly does not extend below the bottom of said watercraft when driving said watercraft. view more